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New Indianapolis YMCA Targets Bike Commuters

The YMCA of Greater Indianapolis has opened a new branch designed to attract bicycle commuters. The Indy Bike Hub YMCA is located next to the downtown City Market, which currently is experiencing a renaissance thanks to a $3.5 million renovation project.

The new facility features several conveniences for cyclists, including almost 150 bike racks, a full-service bike shop that offers repairs, sales and bicycle rentals, and free purse and wallet lockers. Nonmembers can use the facility’s locker room, towel service and bike racks for $8 per day. Those benefits are covered by the monthly charge for members, who also can access the facility’s other more typical offerings, including strength and cardio equipment, group exercise classes, personal training and wellness training.

At the grand opening of the Indy Bike Hub last week, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard said he hoped the facility would encourage more people to commute by bicycle and would help to create a health-conscious culture in the city. The president of the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, Eric Ellsworth, said the organization expected the Y bike hub to have 2,000 regular users a year.

The City Market and new hub are accessible from the on-street bicycle lanes and from the Cultural Trail, one of Indianapolis’s dedicated pedestrian and cyclist paths.

According to the Indianapolis government’s official website, the city currently has more than 30 miles of on-street bike lanes and plans to increase that to 200 miles over the next 12 years.